Mexborough and Swinton Times November 11, 1939

Inquest at Rotherham

At an inquest at Rotherham on Monday, the Sheffield district Coroner (Mr. J. Kenyon Parker recorded a verdict that John Chambers (51), retired miner of 12, Top Row, Hemingfield, drowned himself in a fit of depression due to being unemployed and being in bad health.

Lily Chambers widow, said her husband had been out of work for thirteen years, with the exception of three periods of nine weeks each. She last saw him on Thursday October 19th. He had been ill all the previous week.

For some time he had been very depressed, but had never threatened to kill himself.

Vause Wood, labourer, of 8, House Street, Elsecar, said on Friday, November 3rd, he was walking along a footpath by the side of Linthwaite Reservoir, Brampton Bierlow, when he saw a dark object in the water. Seeing it was a body he telephoned for the police.

P.c. Birkby said he recovered the body and identified it as that of John Chambers. The body was fully dressed with the exception of the hat.

In his opinion it was a case of suicide.

There was a ten feet high wall, and in other parts a five feet high railing round the reservoir, and anyone would have had to climb this to get to the water. It was unlikely that it was an accident.

The Coroner said he had had an examination made of the body, and it was reported death was due to asphyxia from drowning. The body had been in the water from two to four weeks.